Thursday, November 29, 2012

AVERY NEAR MISS.. TOO LITTLE BUT TOO FAR..
Pesta Sukan Kementerian Kewangan 2012 had ended early this month. The final result, my department (Malaysian Royal Customs) still fail to deliver the final nail in the coffin, re claiming the status as no.2 (from 8 other agencies: BSN (1st) KWSP (3rd). The full result is shown below.

Therefore the JKDM had to wait for the next series of this event whether the next host will list chess as one of their event.

I had been participating in this Sukan Kewangan whenever chess is listed as one of its event. Details on the past event, as far as I could recall:

2002: Hosted by Bank Negara (BNM) Champion: BSN, 2nd JKDM, 3rd KWSP

2003: Hosted by JKDM Champion : KWSP, 2nd JKDM, 3rd BSN

2004: Hosted by KWSP Champion : KWSP, 2nd JKDM.

2010: Hosted by BNM Champion : KWSP, 2nd JKDM

2011: Hosted by JKDM Champion: BSN, 2nd KWSP, 3rd LHDN, 4th JKDM

2012: Hosted by KWSP Chamion : BSN, 2nd JKDM, 3rd KWSP

This year however, by far, from my personal view, is our best performance. We even managed to beat BSN and KWSP with the same score 4-2. However, the curious and funny thing was, we lost decisively to the Security Commissioner 1-5. A very unthinkable score which would never come across to my mind, let alone to any of the participants and arbiters of the tournament. We were not only been beaten, but had been crushed or annihilated completely. The result was as a sweet vengenace to the SC team as they had lost to us 6-0 in the previous year. As a result of the unprecendented defeat on the 4th round, we had to make a comeback (not an easy task) on the next day by beating BSN 4-2. However, the remaining victories over JPPH 3.5-2.5 and over LHDN 4-2 was insufficient to cover the defisit after losing disasterously to SC.

35. Rcd1 Rxd2 ({During the time trouble ( I had about 4 minutes while my opponent had about 2 minutes) I had also considered..}

35... Qxd1 36. Rxd1 Rxd1 {which would not work, opined Abg Mohd Reduan in our brief post morterm after the game. I decided not to play this as there is no need to do so.})

36. Qxd2 {Despite the total control on the d-file, white cannot penetrate into black's kingdom} h4! 37. Kg2hxg3 38.hxg3 Re6! {When he saw this coming, I could see that, Abg Reduan could not defend anymore.}

Thursday, August 09, 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

MSSM BULETIN

Right now, despite the month of fasting, I am in the process of doing the chess buletins for the MSSM 2012 Under 12 Boys and Under 12 Girls. The speed of producing these bulletins is however quite slow as we (as muslims) should give other ibadah such as recitation the Quran, Sadaqah, Tarawih priority over our normal worldly jobs.

I shall announce the price of the buletins when they are available and ready for sale very soon (after Raya).

Below is one of the most decisice games between 2 Penang boys which took place on board 1 at Round 3

Last Saturday I took part in the annual event held by Putrajaya Komuniti. It was my 3rd consercutive participation since I had been transfered to the Customs Department Headquarters at Putrajaya. This year's respond, however, had turned out to be very poor. I do not wish to speculate the reason, but naturally, as a chess player, among the factors which are among my considerations are:

1. The champion's prize:

(This year only RM300, whereby the price was RM500 in 2011 and 2010 (the year I became the champion for the first time in this event)

2. The number of prices: if I am not mistaken, in 2011 8 placing were offered whereby in this year's event it had been reduced to 4 placing only.

Cost include, the petrol, tol, fee, time of travel etc. As Putrajaya is about 30 minutes from my house, I feel that I had been travelling to my my office with extra one day for this special occassion.

I discovered that only 24(including myself) took part compared to last years' 48, in the above 16 category (actually it should be call open ). I managed to win 5 games and drew one with Cikgui Rizal Jusah (The 1st seeded in this tournament based on last year's result). However, I was declared as the champion based on higher tie break.

In this game, I may had missed the finess 26.Bg5 and played 26.Bxh6 which in respond, answered with the best defence 26...Qh4!. However, 27.Bg7++!! (double checks) is in my opinion, a master class move.

There is one more (in my opininion) a brilliant game. But, I want to refrain myself from publishing it because, that specific line was intended to be used against someone who I had been aiming to unleash that specific opening surprise.

Than the other brilliant game, though only leads to a draw, is something quite extra ordinary. With 27.Nd7!? sacrificing the Queen despite temporarily, it leads to a very balance ending which I agreed for a draw later.

And.. the last one is my worst game (despite winning in the end). How could I simply miscalculated and played one piece down. Fortunately for me, beginning with 26... Bd4 followed by 27...Ra8 and the quite amazing 27...Rc3!?.. my oppnent was in a great state of shock. When the b-pawn is pushed 32...b3 and 34...b2 White is lost

Friday, June 01, 2012

I had only able to achieve the 12th place (5.5 from 9 - 4 wins, 3 draws and 2 defeats) which is by far much better than in my last campaign in the national closed. However, I personally satisfied with the quality of my own games.

Saturday, May 12, 2012

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.widgeo.net"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;widgeo.net&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;MAKSAK CHESS 2011 BULETIN IS NOW AVAILABLE AT RM 20.00

I had not been following the chess world's highest level since Kasparov had retired from the professional chess. Co-incidentally, the retirement was followed by the demised of Bobby Fischer and as regard to Anatoly Karpov, he is no longer active nor as strong as he used to be in 80's and 90's. These 3 figures had been my aspiration to learn and play chess. Nevertheless, I try to revive my interest by following the current world chess championship between Anand and his new challenger, Gelfand.

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5
{A slight surprise and very combative. Anand played the Gruenfeld in game one against Topalov in 2010 and was crushed after he forgot his theory}4. Nf3 Bg7 5. cxd5
(5. Bg5)
(5. Qb3 {are trendy but the Exchange Variation remains the main battleground})

5... Nxd5 6. e4 Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Bb5+ {A surprise because it's thought to be fairly
harmless although Vishy has played it before. I guess the Gruenfeld might be a
slight surprise so Vishy playing it safe}
(8. Be3)
(8. Rb1 {Are the challenging continuations})

9... Qa5 10. Rb1 a6
(10... Bxc3+ {I think Pein-Forintos went this way at the Benedictine International in 1982. Don't remember too much and probably have the year wrong as well. I know this much, I lost ..})

(24... Bf5 25. Re1 {[%emt 0:00:14] The threat to c5 probably forces Black to take on e4 and then there is not much in it so a fair result. A good result
for Boris, a draw with Black and Vishy was even under pressure for a while as
his long think on move}) 1/2-1/2

Friday, May 11, 2012

Yesterday, (10th of May 2012) JANM, the favourite team under the Treasury (PERBENDAHARAAN NEGARA) managed to produce the hatrick when they defeated all the other Departments ( Sektor dan Kawalan, Pengurusan, Dasar and Bhg Pinjaman Perumahan).

Among their stars who had played were Mohd Sukifli, Omar Hazree and Muhd Naguib. I was appointed by the konvenor for this event, Mr Mohd Halif Dzurhan Ismail to act as the arbiter for the tournament.

There is no game from the tournament to be published in this blog as recording the game under the time control 30 minutes till finished is not compulsory under the laws of World Chess Federation (FIDE).

Last Saturday and Sunday, I brought my daughter, son and wife to participate in this tournament. UIAM was the University which I and my wife studied during our under graduate years. It is also the place where I met my wife and it is specifically due to the chess game.

Despite of some setback, I lost 3 games to Ian Udani, Muhd Syazwan Zulkifli and NM Kamalarifin Wahiduddin, I cannot stop myself from producing 2 of (in my humble opinion) beautiful games.

Friday, March 16, 2012

FEMALE PLAYERS WHO ARE NO LONGER ACTIVE AS A COMPETITIVE PLAYER

A blast from the past.

One of the strongest female players who used to be my student at chess is Mumtaz Muhammad. After graduated she did play fo some time but when the has come (getting married and raising her child) it is "bye-bye" to the chess world.

Below is her game against another great local femal player, in fact she may be our best female player ever produced in our local scene.. Siti Zulaikha.

In this encounter, the readers may find that Siti Zulaikha had been crushed by Mumtaz. However, Mumtaz had failed to deliver the final nail in the coffin and the turning point was so painful.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Yesterday, I brought my son Akmal and my daughter Haibatul Hannan to participate in a small open chess tournament organised by the OKU in conjunction with Hari Wilayah at the Dataran Merdeka. I arrived a bit late but still on time to let them taste the excitement of a chess competition. Unplanly, the arbiter, sifu Latif asked me to join the tournament due to the odd number of participant.

Despite the fact that I had not plan to play in a tournament, I accepted it as the other participants are non others than my chess friends as well as most of them used to be trained by me during the previous para games. In fact sifu Latif also announced to the OKU that he is working hard to find sponsors to enabled the Malaysian players to join the next para game in Rangoon Myanmar 2013.

I was paired against Mahadzir Derani, Shaharudin Sidek, Ho Hea King, Shaharudin Mappa and Hasidin Abd Rasyid. All these 5 are the heavyweight contestant of the OKU. In fact I did suffer a number of defeats in the hand of them during training session. However, this time, I managed to beat all of them to become the winner. My daughter cinched (surprisingly) the champion for school category including a victory over her own elder brother (actually by default - illegal move in 10 minutes blitz)

Monday, January 16, 2012

Yesterday, I brought my daughter, Haibatul Hannan (aged 7) to the DATCC to introduce her to my 'chess world'. Originally I intended to register my son as a participant, but he suffered a heavy flu and did not able to participate due to his poor health condition. At the very last minute, the organiser, Mr Fadli 'officially' invited me through his microphone when I was on the way to the exit door. As a courtessy, I offered my daughter instead (who was eager to take part) to accept the invitation. Therefore she began her chess career in DATCC. At the end, not bad, with absolute beginner level and first ever tournament entry, she got 3 points out of 8 rounds! Sounds impressive, but in fact, she only won one but had 2 walkover.. very lucky in term of gaining points. Here how she snatched a point by a snap mate.